Catholic loaded; PA, Menchville could vie for Class 5 supremacy
Crusaders look to go farther: Paul VI has dominated VISAA Division I state competition of late and eliminated Catholic in the semifinals a year ago. Second-year head coach Billy Stokes feels he could have the team to compete with the Northern Virginia power this season. That’s because he returns one of the area’s best players in all-state forward Jemma Eleby (16.6 points per game) for the No. 1-ranked Crusaders and adds two of the best in former Great Bridge shooting standout Olivia Bowes (26 points per game last year) and King’s Fork transfer Zaniyah Williams, one of the state’s top point guards.
Menchville vs. Princess Anne: This is area girls basketball’s “Ford v Ferrari” — which prompted a motion picture on the Formula One motorsports rivals — the best and shiniest public school programs. Princess Anne owns 13 Class 5 state titles, including nine of the past 10, and dethroned state champ Menchville 53-51 in a thrilling down-to-the-buzzer state semifinal a year ago. With All-Tidewater Player of the Year favorite (VCU signee) Cyriah Griffin now at Menchville, and freshman Micah Ojo, considered the area’s next big star, debuting for Princess Anne, a state semifinal rematch would be even more anticipated.
Manor looks to challenge Norview as coach nears milestone:
Norview has dominated the Eastern District the past two seasons, but the graduation of first-team All-Tidewater pick Diamond Wiggins (19 ppg, 8 rebounds per game, 4 steals per game) isn’t the only reason the Pilots will face a challenge. The addition of Manor transfer Jadah White (28.9 ppg) to an experienced lineup at Norcom poses one threat.
Manor, led by Jada Clark (14.0 ppg), should make it a three-way race for the Eastern District championship. Manor coach Roger Smith needs three wins to reach 400 for his career.
Deep Creek adds depth to Class 5 Region A:
Princess Anne has been virtually automatic in reaching the Class 5 state tournament for well more than a decade, while Salem and Kempsville have often battled for the second berth. Deep Creek moves into Class 5 Region A, making it a four-team mix, led by talented sophomore point guard Asia Keels (13.6 ppg) and wing Chloe Beddingfield (11.2 ppg). Hornets coach Kip Sutton needs just two victories to reach 200 for his career.
Williamsburg rules the Bay Rivers District:
With perennial district power and defending champion Grafton in rebuilding mode, the chase for the Bay Rivers District title should come down to 2023 district runner-up Jamestown and all-around star Maddie Leach, and Class 3 state semifinalist Lafayette, which welcomes BRD Player of the Year Dynasti Pierce (25 ppg, 8 rpg) from Smithfield. Don’t sleep on Williamsburg-area school Warhill, which was 15-5 last year and boasts talent in returners Akeylah James, Taleah James, D’Shela Walker and freshman Bria McAdoo.
757Teamz Top 15
1. Catholic: The Crusaders lost three double-figure scorers, two to NCAA Division I, from a team that went 27-7 and reached the VISAA Division I semifinals. The return of 6-2 forward Jemma Eleby (16.6 ppg, 7.4 rpg), an All-Tidewater selection; 5-6 guard Kylah Moore, a doubledigit scorer and Coppin State recruit; and two stellar transfers make the Crusaders the No. 1 preseason pick in Hampton Roads. The transfers are senior Olivia Bowes, a 5-11 sharpshooter who averaged 26 points for Great Bridge last year, and sophomore Zaniyah Williams from King’s Fork, ranked among the top 25 freshmen nationally prior to last season.
2. Menchville: Despite losing five players important to their 2022 Class 5 state championship and ’23 semifinal appearance, transfers and holdovers mean the Monarchs (24-2) will be a power again. Their most important transfer is VCU recruit/point guard Cyriah Griffin, the star of King’s Fork’s 2022 Class 4 state championship victory and an All-Tidewater selection a year ago with averages of 19 points, nine assists and 7.5 steals. Freshman standouts to move in are Nevaeh Reid (15.6 ppg, 5.0 assists per game), the Metro Conference Player of the Year for Atlantic Shores, and Keira Kilkenny (20.9 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 4.5 steals per game), the VISAA Division III Player of the Year for state champion Walsingham Academy. Returners Ayame Colson (9.7 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 4.0 spg), Keira Bagwell and Taliyah Woodbury have all played key minutes for the Monarchs the past two seasons.
3.PrincessAnne: Mississippi signee Zakiya Stephenson (16.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 5.9 apg, 7.2 spg) — who scored
25 points in the 53-45 state final victory over L.C. Bird — was such a big part of the Cavaliers’ ninth Class 5 state title in 10 seasons that her all-around contributions will be greatly missed. But in guards Celeste Bailey (8.3 ppg as a sophomore two years ago), Hailey Harris (10.1 ppg) and Tinasia Spencer (13.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 6.2 spg) among the returners, as well as forward Damaria Moore (6.1 ppg, 8.1 rpg), there is some experience. Micah Ojo, a 6-foot do-it-all freshman ranked among the top 25 nationally in her class, is another reason the Cavaliers are solid Beach District and Class 5 Region A favorites as always.
Although first-team All-Tidewater pick Diamond Wiggins (19 ppg, 8 rpg, 4 spg) graduated and is playing in the CAA for Monmouth, so much returns for the Class 5 state quarterfinalist Pilots (22-5) that they are expected to be in the mix as one of the top teams in Hampton Roads and Class 5 Region B. Kiyah Fitchett (14.8 ppg, 3.5 spg) is one of the top returning players in the area. Leyla Minor (8.3 ppg), Jazmin Smith (8.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg), Taylor Christful (6.2 ppg) and Rennah Sanders (4.8 ppg) were all key players a year ago for the Eastern District champs.
4. Norview:
5. Deep Creek: The Hornets (18-6) pushed Hampton to the wire in the Class 4 Region A semifinals before losing 52-49. With two talented freshmen — guard Kimora Hinton and forward Morgan Herbert —joining a trio of returning double-figure scorers in highly regarded point guard Asia Keels (13.6 ppg), Chloe Beddingfield (11.2 ppg) and Alaya Monroe-Sutton (13.1 ppg), the Hornets, now in competitive Class 5 Region A, will be a contender to reach the state tournament.
6. Hampton: This is a very different team than the one that got 31.4 points per game a year ago from George Mason recruit Kennedy Harris — 35 in the 75-63 Class 4 state championship-game victory over Pulaski County. The Crabbers (25-3) are much more post-oriented, with four players standing 6-0 or 6-1 joining speedy guard Dreyanna Foster in the starting
lineup: returners Kaliyah Perry (12.1 ppg, 10.3 rpg), Jaiden Hunter, Dajanelle Linton-Robinson and freshman Lyle Ames. Perry, who scored 25 points in a 75-43 rout of King’s Fork in the Class 4 Region A championship game, is a rising star.
7. Salem: Returner Inayah Lendow’s buzzer-beating stickback lifted the SunDevils (19-6) to a 53-41 win over Kempsville and a Class 5 state tournament berth, and she gives the program a head of steam leading into this season. It also helps that All-Beach District pick Zakyah Lindsay (16.5 ppg,15 rpg last year with Kempsville) has joined the fold. In addition to vocal leader Lendow (4 ppg), First Colonial transfer Mya Newborn (6.5 ppg, 5 rpg), Briseis Estrada (8 ppg), and returning guards Imani Johnson (7) and Nora Christian, a shooting ace, give the SunDevils hopes of pushing Princess Anne for the district title and contending for a return trip to state.
8. Manor: A Class 4 state semifinalisttwoyearsago,theMustangs(21-5) haveagoodshotofreachingthatlevel again this year, despite the graduation of All-Tidewater pick AJ Richardson (19 ppg, 7 apg) and transfer to Norcom of All-Tidewater selection Jadah White. Point guard Jada Clark (14 ppg, 5 spg), shooting guard Ca’AsiaBrown(8ppg,5spg),forward Sian Lewin (8 ppg), forward Kobie Haggins (12 ppg, 10 rpg), 6-1 freshman Lauren Williams and Tallwood transfer Yaw’Mari Darden give the Mustangs a lineup as talented as any in Class 4 Region A.
9. Norfolk Christian: This program is on the rise and, because the roster is so young, the Ambassadors (21-9) should be good for years to come. The VISAA Division II all-state returners are freshman combo guard Justice Brown-Jones (14.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg) and 6-8 sophomore Abuna Ruop (12.7 ppg, 12.6 rpg, 4.7 bpg). Freshman point guard Ellery Giddens is already drawing Division I interest, while sophomore Christal Harris (8 ppg, 2.9 spg) and freshman guards Jazlyn Hubbard, Avia Scruggs and Rochelle Musimbi add to the Ambassadors’ backcourt depth.
10. King’s Fork: The Bulldogs (20-7) began 2022-23 ranked No. 1 after winning the Class 4 state title the year before, but are in a bit of a rebuilding stage with the graduation of Coppin State signee Niyah Gaston (17.7 ppg, 7 rpg) and the transfer of star guards Cyriah Griffin (Menchville) and Zaniyah Williams (Catholic). Division I prospect 6-0 wing Imani Clemons (15.5 ppg, 7 rpg), sophomore point guard Riley Hite (9 ppg), 6-2 freshman standout Shariya Williams, shooting ace Imani Watson (7 ppg), defensive standout D’Nayshia Jenkins and freshman point guard Camile Williams leave coach Maurice Fofana with plenty of talent to work with.
11. Jamestown: With do-it-all sophomore guard Maddie Leach (18.3 ppg) leading the way, the Eagles (19-6) enter the season as Bay Rivers District favorites. Raini Mayo (12.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3 spg), Pheonix Williams (5.8 ppg, 8 rpg), Shadae Williams (4.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg), Vision Pretlow (5.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg) and Ashley Kullberg (4.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.2 spg) were all part of the Eagles team that reached the Bay Rivers District championship game a year ago.
12.Kellam: The Knights (15-9) return two All-Class 6 Region A players from last year’s region semifinalists in 5-11 sophomore forward Caroline Casady (13 ppg, 10.3 rpg) and 5-7 junior point guard Molly Spain (11 ppg, 4 apg). Spain’s twin sisters, 5-6 guards Mia and Kate Spain, are drawing college interest and add talent to the roster. Seniors Hope Williams (5.5 ppg, 7 rpg) and Mackenzie White (5.4 ppg) bring experience, while senior Erin Cason, a starter as a freshman, looks to return after years of battling knee injuries.
13. Kempsville: A buzzer-beating basket in a 43-41 loss to Salem cost the Chiefs (17-7) a return trip to the Class 5 state tournament. Division I commit Kenya Ramsey (UMBC) leads the effort to get back to state after averaging 16.1 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists a year ago. Senior point guard Sophia Moore, 6-1 junior center Colleen Udoh and junior shooting guard Arianna Davis and Kennedy Shipman round out a veteran cast.
14. Norcom: All that stood between the Greyhounds (17-8) and a Class 3 state tournament were a couple of late missed free throws in a 31-30 loss to Lafayette in the region semifinals. Their chances of reaching state this year are boosted by the addition of Jadah White, who was All-Tidewater with Manor last year at 28.9 points per game. She joins a group of veterans including guard Jordan Porter (10 ppg), forward Synai Jones (8 ppg, 10 rpg) and forward Camryn Dance (8 ppg, 10 rpg).
15. Lafayette: The Rams (19-9) were already going to be pretty good, with MaKayla Keys (8.4 ppg) and Sarah Lynch (10.5 ppg) back from the team that reached the state quarterfinals for the first time in the school’s 50-year history. The transfer in of Bay Rivers District Player of the Year Dynasti Pierce, a guard who averaged 25 points and 8 rebounds for Smithfield, ensures they’ll contend for district and Class 3 Region A titles despite the graduation of all-state guard Alexis Blake (16.0 ppg).
The next five: Landstown, Green Run, Indian River, Warhill, Bethel.
Five players to watch Cyriah Griffin, Menchville 5-7, senior guard
Griffin already owns state championship rings for Princess Anne as a freshman before her 12-point, 13-assist performance in King’s Fork’s 71-67 win over Millbrook of Winchester in the Class 4 state championship game in her sophomore season. The area’s top point guard, she’ll look to make it state title No. 3 with talented Menchville.
Micah Ojo, Princess Anne 6-0, freshman guard/forward
She received a scholarship offer last year from Michigan while still in the eighth grade. Ranked in the top 25 among freshmen nationally, Ojo can shoot, score inside and do just about everything else with a basketball. Princess Anne will almost certainly add to its 13 state titles during her varsity career.
Jemma Eleby, Catholic 6-2, forward/center
George Mason, Radford and UNC Wilmington are among numerous schools interested in Eleby, who averaged 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4 steals in earning VISAA Division I all-state honors. She should be the glue on a team with three new but very talented starters.
Kiyah Fitchett, Norview 5-9, senior guard
A two-time All-Tidewater selection, Fitchett averaged 15.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 3.5 steals in helping the Pilots repeat as Eastern District champs and return to the Class 5 state tournament. She and the Pilots are likely to repeat all those honors as they pursue a state title.
Maddie Leach, Jamestown 5-8, sophomore guard
Leach made a splash as a freshman, averaging 18.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 3.4 steals to lead the Eagles to the Bay Rivers District championship game. Her return and all-around play are the biggest reasons Jamestown enters this season as the district favorite.